U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo Comes to UHD: Nov. 14
By Sheryl E. Taylor
There are special opportunities that can be considered once in a lifetime … and this is one of those times. The College of Humanities & Social Sciences’ Department of English and Inprint Margarett Root Brown Reading Series feature a poetry reading with U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo.
The free and in-person event is at 1 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 14, in the Welcome Center’s TDECU Tour Room. Harjo is the first Native American to hold the position of U.S. Poet Laureate and the second poet to serve three consecutive terms. She will read from her new poetry collection, “Weaving Sundown in a Scarlet Light: 50 Poems for 50 Years.”
“Joy Harjo’s powerful poetry musically lures into depths of consciousness, memory, history, and social justice,” said Dr. Stalina Villareal, Assistant Professor of Creative Writing, Department of English.
This special visit to UHD is part of Harjo’s trip to Houston for her appearance in the 2022/2023 Inprint Margarett Root Brown Reading Series, which will include a reading from her new book and a conversation with 2022 Texas Poet Laureate Lupe Mendez. The Inprint event will be held at 7:30 p.m., Friday, Nov. 18, at Rice University’s Brockman Hall for Opera, and is free for students. Visit inprint.org for details.
The University of Houston-Downtown (UHD) is the second-largest university in Houston and has served the educational needs of the nation’s fourth-largest city since 1974. As one of four distinct public universities in the University of Houston System, UHD is a comprehensive, four-year university led by President Loren J. Blanchard. Annually, UHD educates approximately 14,000 students, boasts more than 66,000 alumni, and offers 45 bachelor’s degrees, 12 master’s degrees, and 19 online programs within four colleges: Marilyn Davies College of Business, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, College of Public Service, and College of Sciences and Technology. UHD has one of the lowest tuition rates in Texas.
U.S. News and World Report ranked UHD among the nation’s Best Online Bachelor’s Programs for Applied Administration and Best Online Master’s Programs in Criminal Justice, as well as a Top Performer in Social Mobility. The Wall Street Journal/College Pulse ranked UHD one of the best colleges in the U.S. for its 2024 rankings, with notable distinctions: No. 1 for diversity (tied) and No. 3 for student experience. The University is designated as a Hispanic-Serving Institution, a Minority-Serving Institution, and a Military Friendly School. For more information on the University of Houston-Downtown, visit uhd.edu.
